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Discover the fascinating experiment of attempting to germinate nearly century-old tomato seeds from a 1926 Stark Bro's Seeds catalogue in this 24-minute video. Follow along as the host investigates the viability of "Stark's Blight Resister" tomato seeds, believed to be a blight and wilt-resistant variety of the Norton tomato that was exclusive to Stark Bro's at the time. Learn about the challenges of working with extremely old seeds, as most tomato seed viability is typically lost after approximately 10 years, though rare exceptions can occur under optimal conditions. Explore the historical context of this particular tomato variety, which appears to be derived from the Norton tomato - itself a wilt-resistant variety of the earlier Stone tomato. Witness the careful approach taken to this potentially unique seed preservation experiment, as the presenter could not locate any other existing sources for this specific variety. Gain insights into plant science principles regarding seed longevity and storage conditions while following the germination process and early growth stages of these remarkable heirloom seeds.
